The Sun. — London, England, 1864-04-30 00:00:00

'BRIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. The following bills were read a second time :—Westou super-Mare Pier, Salisbury Gas, Salisbury Railway and Market House, and West Riding and Grimsby Railway. The following bills were read a third time and passed : West London Dock and Warehouses, with an amendment —Railway Passengers Assurance Company—and Dublin and Meath Railway (Amendments). POLAND. The Earl of DERBY said the noble lord who had just taken his seat (Lord Stratheden) had a motion on the paper with respect to Poland, the frequent postponement of which had occasioned conaiderabie inconvenience. It stood now for Monday next, and he should like t know whether he intended to proceed with it on that day, or whether it was again to be postponed. Lord STRATHEDEN said he was only anxious that the subject which stood for discussion in another place should be considered there before it was taken up by their lordships. THE SEIZURE OF THE STEAM RAMS. The Earl of DERBY rose to call attention to the pub lished correspondence between her Majesty's Government and Mr. Laird as to the steam rams. His lordship, it would be recollected, some time ago, asked the noble earl, the Secre tary for Foreign Affairs, for certain copies of correspondence relative to this subject, but that was refused on public grounds. Shortly afterwards a motion was made for the production of the papers in the other house, which were produced. In reviewing the circumstances under which the correspondence had arisen, ho characterised the conduct of the Messrs. Laird as everything that was commendable, seeing that they had withheld nothing from her Majesty's Government, while the conduct of the Government, on the other hand, ho considered highly censurable, seeing it had been most unfair, ungenerous, and he feared illegal. The noble earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs first received information from the American Consul at Liverpool respecting the rams on the 7th of August. From that time to the Ist Sept. the noble earl seemed to have been weighing the facts to see if he could find any evidence to justify the detention of the rams. Pressing letters had in the meantime been sent by the representatives of the American Government, and on Sept. 3 the noble earl was informed that one of the rams was almost ready to proceed to sea. He seemed to have made up his mind that the rams should be stopped, and they were seized on the sth of September, and no information to that effect was furnished to Messrs. Laird until the 9th. He thought those gentlemen had been badly treated in the matter, be cause they had done everything in the most open and un disguised manner. Before that time, however, a message it appeared had beeta seat to the United States, previously informing the Government that the rams had been stopped, After this a correspondence ensued between the Messrs. Laird and the Government, relative to the persona for whom the two ironciads were being con structed, in the course of which the Messrs. Laird said it was unusual to furnish the names of parties .or whom ships were being built, but, notwithstanding that, they at once informed the Government that M. Brave, of Paris, was the person for whom the vessels were censtructee, and accordingly a Government agent was at once de spatched to that gentleman in Paris, when he, with out the slightest reserve, showed that person everything connected with the iron -clads, and ho returned to London and reported to the Government that he had concluded his inquiry, and that all the matters connected with the owner ship of the two vessels was satisfactory. Indeed, her Ma jesty's Government e ere themselves so far convinced of this, that in the latter part of the same month they treated with Messrs. Brave for the purchase of the rams. (Hear, hear.) However, to go back to the dealings between the Government and Messrs. Laird, on the 11th these gentle men asked permission to take one of the vessels on a trial trip, promising that she should return to the fleet at Bir kenhead. On the 17th this permission was granted; but on the 14th Messrs. Laird had received an intimation that the rams were rot to leave Liverpool until the Government was satisfied with regard to their destination. That mea sure, he contended, was perfectly illegal. If the Govern ment had evidence to justify a seizure they had a perfect right to mace one. But they had no right to detain these rams fer an indefinite period on no definite charge, and, in stead of proving the guilt, to call upon the builders to prove the innocence of their intended destination. Before the trial trip could take place the Secretary of the Treasury, on Sept. 19, wrote to say that they could not allow it unless provi sion was made against a sudden seizure, which they heard was in contemplation. Who was to seize her ? The men on board ? But they were Mr. Laird's own men. Some vessel lying at the mouth of the Mersey ? But at that very time the whole Channel fitet was lying off Liverpool, and a more unlikely time for such an enterprise could not be conceived. (Hear, hear) However, on Sept. 21, Messrs. Laird thanked the Government for the protection which they had promised to afford them, although they said they were unaware of the danger which was apprehended. At the same time they stated that the trial trip would be de ferred in consequence of the crowded state of the river But the permission to make the trip was certainly in force until the 24th September, because on that day the Foreign Secretary referred to in a letter to Mr. Adams. On the 7th of October, however, the Foreign Secre tary wrote to say that it had b-en necessary to take additional precautions against her seizure. A body of marines had been previously placed on board, and these "additional precautions" consisted in adding to them some custom• house officers. (Laughter.) However, Messrs, Laird made no objection to this additional protection which was thus afforded against a danger which consisted in this, that some band of men should force the gates of the dock in which she was lying, should overpower the marines and the police, and should carry off a vessel only partially fit for sea from the middle of the port of Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) On the 9th October the Government—not satisfied with what they had done—wrote to say that they had ordered the seizure of both the rates; and in this letter they again referred to the danger of the forcible abduction of one or both these vessels. Messrs. Laird, in reply, expressed their entire disbelief in the possibility of carrying out any such plan of abduction in the port of Liverpool; and stated that they hoped the Government would soon see the propriety of removing the vexatious restrictions which had been placed on their property. At this very time one of the vessels was in Messrs. Laird's private deck, the entrance to which was blocked up by a caisson, and which a ship could only enter or leave for about an hour near high water. It was absurd to suppose that there could be any danger of a vessel in such a position being carried off by violence. (Hear.) It appeared from other correspondence that the danger of whien her Majesty's Government were apprehensive when they took such extraordinary measures for the protection of the rams, was the arrival in Liverpool of some seventy men belonging to the Confederate ship Florida. They appa rently feared that these men would endeavour to seize the rams; nor could there be any doubt that they were sincere is the apprehensions they expressed, b_cause, when the Channel fleet left Liverpool, they not only ordered the Majestic and the Liverpool to remain behind, but they sent the ironclad Royal Consort round from Plymouth in a half-finished state, so ihat sho nearly foundered in the Iris'a Channel, and certainly never reaebed Liverpool. And now as to these seventy men from the crew of the Florida. They came not in an organised body; they were not Oven in the Confederate service; on the contrary, the 3 had been dis charged at Brest, and they came to Liverpool to obtain pay ment of their wages. Having been refused by a firm to whom they applied, they sought the assistance of whom ? Of the united States consul ; and this consul took up their case, and his attorney brought an action on their behalf against a firm on which he considered they had a claim. The latter at first disputed their liability, but, after some communications with France, they consented to pay. The men were paid on the 13th of October, and then these men, who were supposod to be meditating this desperate enterprise on behalf of the Confederate Government, dispersed in vari ous directions, declaring emphatically that they would never re-enter the Confederate service, in which they had been so scurvily treated. And these were the wen who had thrown the Government off their balance, and caused theta to take precautions against dangers which never existed in the slightest degree. (Hear, hear.) On the 27th Messrs. Laird Were told that the vessels had been seized, on account of a violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act, that their men must leave them, and that they would be towed out into the tideway of the Mersey. He must say that the latter was the most extraordinary step ever taken for the protection of Vessels which it was supposed were in danger of being sei22cl—to take them from closed docks into an open tide way- Mesa's, Laird protested against this measure, on the ground of the danger to their property; but the Govern ment insisted, and with some difficulty, atter some delay, the vessels were towed out into the Mersey, On the 29th, Mesers. Laird again wrote to the Admiralty, the Foreign Office, and the Treasury, protesting against the whole of these proceeding's, and stating that they held the Govern the l arge pecuniary loss arising went responsible for from these arbitrary proceedings. The Admiralty forwarded the letter which they had received to the Foreign Office, and the Foreign Office forwarded both letters to the Treasury, which took no steps wkatevet. The noble earl then referred to so me subieguent correspondence be tween Messrs. Laird and the Gov ernment with respect to the insurance of the rams, and stated t h at, on January 12, Messrs, Lsird propcsed that the vessels should be removed into the Birhenhiad Docks, and there retained by the Go vernment under an armed guard. They stated that they asked this in o r d er th a t th e y m i g ht be enabl e d to complete their contract ; and it certainly showed their consciousness of their own innocence when they were found willing to add considerably to the number of vessels Which would •be liable to seizure if an illegal destination was proved against them. But this most reasonable proposal was also refused by toe Government, and refused without any reasons being given. Nor was it until the bth of February that , Me - sra. Laird, in reply to their repsatA questions when the case was likely to be tried, were informed that an infontoation would be filed in a few days, and that it would probably be necessary to send a commission abroad to take evidence. So that it was then actually proposed to send out a commission to take evidence against vessels which had been seized four months ago, and had been illegally de tained a month previously. It was his firm belief that no informatiOn would have ever been filed if it had not been that Parliament was meeting on the 4th February, and if Mr. Adams had not in the latter part of January forwarded to Earl Russell the forged despatch of the Confederate Se cretary of the Navy, intimating at the same time the opinion of his Government that this document ought to put an end to any lingering doubt as to the destination of the steam rams in the Mersey. At this document Earl Russell eagerly snatched ; he stated to Mr. Adams that he quite appreciated the importance of the admissions it contained; that it showed what the Government were previously aware of, that Con federate agents were studiously endeavouring to violate her Majesty's neutrality; and that the Confederate Government would be informed that such conduct could not be tolerated. But although this clumsy forgery took in her Majesty's Government, all those persons in England who knew any thing of the Confederate States and their Government saw at once that it was a fabrication. Had it not been for the receipt of this document, he did not believe that any infor mation would ever have been filed, notwithstanding the meeting of Parliament. For not only was the noble earl, but the Atternoy-General also, jubilant at the conclusive proof which they thought they had procured of the vali dity of the charge which they had made against these rams. He could not consent to pass this matter over in the light and frivolous manner in which the noble earl the Foreign Secretary had alluded to it the other night. It was not a trifle that a document should ire forged—that it should be transmitted by the Federal Secretary of State to his ambassador in London, and be by him made the founds• tion of a remonstrance with her Majesty's Foreign Secre tary. Was Mr. Seward justified in forwarding such a document without having ascertained in the most conclusive manner its authenticity ? He did not charge Mr. Seward , with being the author of the document ; but it was extra ordinary that it was in the columns of the New York Tames, which was under the control of Mr. Seward, that the entire document first appeared, He could easily have satisfied himself as to its character; and he certainly ought not to have used it until he had satisfied himself that it was what it pretended to be. He was certainly disappointed that they had not heard from the noble earl any expression of in dignation against the manner in - which he had been Imposed upon; nor, so far as he knew, had either Mr. Seward or Mr. Adams apologised for the extreme credulity, to say the least, which they had displayed, and which led them to make such unfounded representations to her Majesty's Go vernment: The noble earl concluded by saying that he had not brought this motion forward with any desire that our neutrality should be evaded or infringed; on the con trary he desired that our laws be fully respected. But, on the ether hand, he desired that the Government should not deprive her Majesty's subjects of that protection and that justice whieh they were entitled to by the laws of the coun try. He concluded by moving for the production of the correspondence between the Government and Messrs. Laird. Earl RUSSELL censured the conduct of Earl Derby, in bringing forward a question which would form the subject of a trial within about a month. He contended that the noble earl had made no case of illegal action against the Go vernment. but before proceeding to discuss that, he would ask the house toassent to two propositions. First, that they were desirous to maintain peaceful relations with the United States ; and secondly that the Messrs. Laird had no right to go to war with any Power at peace with England. And yet it was nothing but the vigilance of the Govern• merit—their over-vigilance, the noble earl said—which hai prevented these " respectable" shipbuilders from involving this country in a war with the United States. After ad verting to one circumstance under which the Foreign En listment Act was passed, and citing its preamble, the noble earl said that there could hardly be a greater crime than to commit acts which endangered the peace and tranquillity of this country, or, in other words, involved us in war with a Power with whom we were previously in relations of amity. The Confederate States, naturally enough, had sent out agents both to England and France, armed with the means of having ships built, in order that expeditions such as the Foreign Enlistment Act prohibited might leave the English and French ports, in order to make war upon the Unit d States, This was clearly proved by the evidence in the case of the Alexandra. But, although he did not feel any sur prise that the Contederete States should endeavour by ell means to establish their independence, he did feel surprised that British subjects, forgetting their duty to the Crown and the obedience they owed the law, should engage in these undertakings, looking to nothing but the means of placing this country at war with the United States. He confessed that he was anxious to deprive the United States of any just cause of war against us, and he thought that he had been amply justified in the steps which he had taken with a view to that object. He was quite satisfied that these vessels were intended for the Confederate States. They were by their build and construction vessels of war, which could be at once employed to destroy any of the United States vessels engaged in blockading the Southern ports. The Govern ment, knowing their capacity for this purpose, thought it their duty to make the fullest inquiry into their intended destination ; for they knew that Captain Bullock and other Confederate agents in this country had procured ship builders both in the Mersey and the Clyde to lend them selves to their projects. One of these shipowners had, indeed, been prosecuted by the Lord Advocate, and had since pleaded guilty. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl had censured him for having detained these vessels before they were seized; but he was quite ready to take the full re sponsibility of that step, which he believed was requisite for the fulfilment of our international obligations and for the preservation of peace. If the Home Secretary had heard, on information which he believed, that a treasonable plot was being concocted, he would not hesitate to arrest the supposed conspirators. And he believed that, as Foreign Secretary, he was equally bound to watch over the peace of the country, and to take steps for warding off any danger with which it might be threatened, The noble earl had also censured him for taking steps to prevent this ex pedition from sailing. But if a number of rams had left this country and had broken the blockade of the Southern ports, how would it have been possible to deny that we were making war against the United States under the guise of neutrality, and against the provisions of our own Foreign Enlistment Act? And who were the Messrs. Laird, that he should be expected to repose implicit confidence in every statement that they might make ? Why, they were the builders of the Alabama. The noble earl then read, from a pamphlet written by a Confederate officer, an account of the fitting out, equipment, and sailing of the Alabama, calling especial attention to the fact that she had left Liverpool under the pretence of a trial trip. And then (said Earl Russell) the noble earl opposite spoke for an h ur against the illegality and oppressiveness of his being suspicious of a vessel built by the Messrs. Laird, which was clearly in tended for war, and was able to act with grew; effect against an enemy, and asked why he did not take the assurance which these gentlemen were ready to offer him. He would not go through the correspondence between the Govern ment and the builders, but he would say that every step he had taken was taken under the advice of an officer on whom he relied. And he believed that if it had not been fur the precautions the Government had taken, the miss would have been taken away, and that they would have been manned, in part at least, by the former crew of the Florida. It might turn out that these vessels were built by M, Brav6 in order to make war on his own account, But he did not believe anything of the kind ; and at all events he was quite satisfied that under the circumstances there was such a case of suspicion as amply justified and, indeed, called upon the Government to detain them, He would not go into the facts which would be adduced on the trial, and which, he believed, would satis:y a a jury of the belligerent destination of these rams. But he would say that, having before him the facts and the information whieh he had, he would have neglecting his duty if he had not taken steps to prevent any violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act. He thought this couutry was especially bound to observe a strict and faithful neu trality in the war between the United and Confederate States. For his own part he had never been able to sym pathise strongly with either party, but it was to be hoped that its result would be the .emancipation of the 4,000,000 of negroes now held in bondage. But that this should be the case, it must be left to the two contending parties to work out this problem by themselves ; and he should regret if this country were compelled to interfere in the war, and thug, it might be, prevent the realisation of that great an vantage and blessing, which ho trusted Providence had in store for us, as some compensation for the miseries and suf ferings of the present struggle. Lord CHELMSFORD said the noble earl had no right to issue orders fur the detention of the vessels until satis factory evidence had been brought forward to show that their destination was the Confederate States. Her Majesty's Government had committed an illegal act when they ordered the detention of the vessels, and threw upon the accused parties the task of proving their innocence. If there were no evidence that the ships were being equipped and fir ted out for the service of a foreign State,the Govern ment ought to have held their hands until they obtained sufficient evidence to justify the seizure It was an extra ordinary thing that whenever any act had been done in re card to the Messrs. Laird there had always been some pre vious letter on the part of the American Minister urging her Majesty's Government to action. In fact, the conduct of ,he Government towards the Meese. Laird had been un just, arbitrary, and oppressive throughout. The Duke of ARGYLL expressed astonishment that his noble and learned friend who had just sat down should have spoken in such strong terms of a matter which was sus judice at the present moment. The conduct of Messrs. Laird had been by no means frank and open as the noble lord who introduced the question assumed; on the con - trary, their conduct was not in accordance with their duty as sutjects of the Crown, nor with what other persons had considered to be their duty under similar circumstances. There was no nation under the sun which had so much interest as Great uritain in maintaining the obligations of neutrality, and it was quite as much the interest of the eiecantile classes as of the Government that the principles o int• rnational law should be upheld. In the whole course .f these transactions the Government, by doing all they multi to st ,, p ►hese vessels. had been performing the most solemn obligation which lay upon them as Ministers of the Crown. reversed. (Hear, hear.) There is no doubt that the hon. baronet was on his legs when the question was put. Sir G. GREY—The proceedings cannot be reversed. The course will be for the hon. member now in the chair to leave the chair. Mr. AYRTON—I beg your pardon; we can request the Speaker to return. Lord R. MONTAGU said ho could answer for it that the Speaker had put the question and said the "Ayes have it ;" and when the question was put the hon. baronet rose. Lord DERBY said he had moved for the papers for the purpose of raising a discussion on this important subject. The motion was withdrawn accordingly. HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY BILL. This bill was read a second time. Their lordships then" adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening, The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The CHAIRMAN then loft the chair to report progress, and the house resumed. On th© return of the Speaker, Sir H. VERNEY—Sir, I move the adjournment of the house. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Hedon and Patrington Road, Newport and (Monmouth. shire) Turnpike Trust, and North Eastern Railway (Addi• tional Powers). AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. The SPEAKER—The hon. baronet can address the hours on a question of order, but I do not think ho can move the adjournment. Sir H. VERNEY—S!r, I wish to address you on a point of order. I beg to state that the name of a member (Mr. Black) was on the paper before mite. I waited, expecting his name to be called. I thought I had risen to address you before you left the chair. If you say I had not I bow to your decigion, but I hopo that I may be allowed to pro ceed with my motion. Mr. CAIRD gave notice that he would call the atten. tion of the house to the subject of agricultural statistics. HER MAJESTY'S DOCKYARDS. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE gave notice that on an early day he would call attention to the expediency of the orders lately issued as to the management and control of her Majesty's dockyards. Mr. B. OSBORNE—I second the motion for adjourn ment. (Order. order.) I maintain that this is a question affecting the privileges of this house; and, without making any pointed allusion to you, I must say that I did not hear you, sir, put the question. A noble lord on the other side (Lord R. Montagu) said he did hear it ; but he was sitting in close proximity to the chair. I was not favoured with that private and confidential communication. (Laughter.) My hon. friend below me rose before you left the chair. (No, no.) We on this bench are gifted with eyes and ears —(laughter)—as well as the more favoured inhabitants of that lower region —(laughter)—and I say the hon. member rose before you left the chair. If you put the question it was put so indistinctly that no member on this bench heard it; but I maintain it, contrary to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that we did not hear the question, I cannot help thinking that independent members are hardly treated, and in their name I protest against this sharp practice. (Oh, oh.) Mr. HUMBERSTONE—It so happened that when the question was put I was standing behind the chair of the Sergeant at Arms ; and it seemed to me that that gentle man rose to advance towards the table before the hon. baronet rose from his seat, Sir G. GREY—There has been some misapprehension. My hon. friend the member for Buckingham (Sir H. Var ney) said that he waited till the name of Mr. Black should be called upon, Mr. Black was not called upon ; but my hon. friend expected him to be called; but it was not ne• cessary that he should be called. The Speaker had left the chair before the hon. baronet rose. I heard the ques tion put, and the hon. baronet did not rise because he was under the misapprehension that Mr. Black would be called. I think that no blame whatever can be attributed to the Speaker. Mr. CARNEGIE—I was farther off than the hon. member for Liskeard ; and though I don't deny that the hon. member has eyes and ears I also claim the privilege to have eyes and ears, and I heard you put the question before the hon. member rose. Mr DILLWYN—As it is a matter of evidence in some respect, I may give the evidence of my senses. I was sitting here very near my hon. friend the member for Liskeard, and I did not hear the question. I heard some words uttered, but not the question. Mr AYRTON said he had heard the question put, but he did not hear it carried. Ho heard the a 3 es but not the noes. Mr W. MARTIN said he had distinctly heard both the aye and the no. Lord It. MONTAGU—I heard the question, and if those hon. gentleman opposite did not hear it, perhaps that is due to the somniferous state into which they had been brought by the speeches which had been previously made. (Hear.) The SPE AKElt—I am sorry that there should have been any misunderstanding or misapprehension on the part of any member. I cannot for a moment admit that there was any thing in the course I pursued which was not strictly in accordance wish the existing rules of the house. I was in no hurry when I rose to put the question that I do now leave the chair. No gentleman rose—and 1 now under stand why the right bon. baronet the member for Bucking ham did not rise ; because he thought I should call on the gentlemen who stood before him. If an hon. member wishes to move an amendment it is for him to rise. I therefore put the question that I do now leave the chair, and as nobody rose thereon I put the usual form—" those who aro of that opinion say aye;' of the contrary opinion, say ' no,' the ayes have it." I then turned and saw that the hon. member for Buckingham had risen in his place. It is perfectly true that he rose and was standing in his place before I left the chair, but not before I had put the question. That is the exact state of the case as far as it happened on my part. I regret that any member who was paying atten tion to the business has arrived at a different conclusion. Mr KINGLAKE said that he was sitting close to the hon. baronet the member for Buckingham, and he certainly did not hear the question. The subject then dropped. '1 he orders of the day were di4osed of, and the Louse then adjourned. Stratford-on-Avon Tercentenary Festival, STRATFORD-ON-AVON, Friday Evening. After the victory, one of the first cares should be o count the cost. It is a trite story that After length of time, the labouring swains, Who turn the turfs of the unhappy plains, Shall rusty piles from the ploughed furrows take, And over empty helmets pass the rake. And now that the Stratford battle against luke warmness, hostility, and local and other jealousies has been fairly won, it is worth while asking how its rank and file have fared. The generalissimos of the forces—the guarantors and committeemen—are proudly wearing the laurels they have so worthily achieved, and may throw the victorious cry, " -- thousand pounds already paid into the bank," in the teeth of their hostile critics and censorious friends. They ca❑ bear a good deal of " damning with faint praise" with philosophic equanimity, for they have not the pleasantest of material assurances that they have fought the good fight, and that a substantial guerdon is theirs ? But, as it would have puzzled Cellini himself to devise a medal which should have no reverse, so there is another side to this picture of the festival, whereon it is necessary to briefly descant. The immense physical and mental strain borne by the active promoters of the festival, the plaintive confession—a confession made in no Banting-like spirit of self. glorificetion, but told as a solemn truth—of one of these gentle men, that he has "lost a stone and a half" during the six months he has been smoothing away the difficulties and combating the obstacles wherewith the tercentenary was beset, represents but a small item in the cost of its success. " Larding the lean earth" may not be particularly satisfactory, but it has in it a smack of self• immolation and heroic sacrifice which, like virtue, should be its own reward. It is the poor camp followers, the sutlers, the men-at-arms, the troopers, and the subalterns, who are now experiencing all the miseries of defeat, without having even tasted the excitement of war fare. The people who looked forward to making a year's rent by a week's letting, and who sapiently took the first step in the coveted direction, by frightening away all moderate people by the exor bitauce of their demands; the purveyors of food, who, trooping in from the neighbouring towns, submitted, like the fag at Eton, to be punished pecuniarily by the owners of houses with a touching faith that they would be able to punish the public in their turn ; the speculators in sleeping accommo dation, who brought up at heavy prices every avail able bed, in their artless eagerness to supply " tired nature's sweet restorer" at festival prices—here are all these ! When Becky Sharp sickened of the vanity and emptiness of life, the three per cents. were the securities wherein her weary soul longs for anchor age; and many worthy people, tired, possibly, of the endlesss discussions as to the authenticity of a pies• tura, on the reading of a passage, have sought a solace from the nuzzles of critics, and the squabbles of commentators, in the pounds, shillings, and peace to be extorted from the people less practical than themselves. "Drink, weary pilgrim, drink and pay," was the line suggested by Sir Walter Scott to the tavern-keeper who enlarged his house on the strength of the vast number of English tourists who flocked to the scenes described in Marmion ; and " eat, drink, or sleep, weary Shaksperian pil grims, at your pleasure, but above all pay," was in the outset tha dominant sentiment here. As a matter of course, this policy has defeated itself, and there have been severe losses and hard hits. Twenty pounds paid for an eating-house for the week, -nd not twenty shillings taken on the first day; more pounis than it would be safe to quote, paid for a large furnished mansion, and a maxi mum number of four tenants occupying its vasty space; a deserted tavern spruced up and furnished for the nonce to receive an amount of patron age which will not pay for the hire of the chattels wherein it is sparsely and cheaply decked out ; steeping-rooms duly contracted for in outlying villages undeviatingly empty and desolate; such are the returns of killed and wounded which are rapidly coming in. The cal- TEE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1864. loquialism " they opened their mouths too wide," expresses the feeling of all but the sufferers them selves, and however proud corporate Stratford has cause to be of the doings of the past week, there is a substratum of bitter disappointment pervading what is foolishly termed " the lower middle class." Leamington, Warwick, and Birmingham have each held their quota of visitors, who preferred the dis comfort of a nightly railway ride to paying as ex tensively through the nose as some of their commer cially minded caterers would have wished. As already stated, the actual prices have not been exor bitant, but the error was seen too late, the British pubric had taken alarm, and the result is heavy losses, and consequent lamentations and woe. Oa Monday next Bottom the weaver, Snug the joiner, Flute the bellows-mender, Starveling the tailor, and Snout the tinker, are to hold their festival, and in a grand street pageant will give the managers of the Tercentenary a practical lesson as to how matters should be arranged "to do good to the town." The " black country" will, these ardent and disinterested Shaksperians argue, furnish forth a more "paying band" of pilgrims than the people who have filled the Pavilion, and as the popular entertainments provided by the committee are well arranged, as the prices of admission range from one shilling to three, and as they are placed under the able super. intendence and control of Mr. Creswick, it is very possible that, as far as mere numbers are concerned, the town will have an even larger tribute during the next three days than it has enjoyed since the commencement of the festival. Although the attendance at the Pavilion last night was not quite so large as on the preceding one, the room was well filled, and contained more well-known London faces than at any former time. "As You Like It" was the only piece played, and Mrs, Hermann Vezin in Rosalind was so witty, graceful, and arch, as to compel many an old playgoer to compare her, not un favourably, with Mrs. Nisbett. It was whispered that this was the character selected by Mrs. H, Vezin on her first appearance on the stage, and it would be difficult to name one more peculiarly adapted to her powers. Should there have any critic present who has at times thought her harsh or stagy, he must have recanted his opinion on hear ing her Rosalind last night. Mr. Creswick in Jaques, was sonorous, impressive, and discriminat ing, the "all the world's a stage" gaining more than its customary applause; Mr. Compton as Touchstone was as purely Shaksperian and quaintly humorous as only Mr. Compton knows how to be ; while Miss Charlotte Saunders in Audrey, was so uniformly funny, so exactly the country wench whom Shakspere drew, as to be frequently inter rupted by the loud laughter and applause of the house. When Mr. Keeley took up his position in the front row of the stalls, and the in telligence was buzzed about the room that the veteran comedian was present, it was coupled with many a regret that the state of Mrs Keeley's health had unhappily prevented her appearing in this character as originally arranged, and had the part of Audrey had a less thorough efficient repre sentative than Miss Charlotte Saunders, those regrets wou:d have seriously impaired the enjoyment of the audience. As it was all went well, the clergy, who have been more and more extensively represented at each performance, and wbo have applauded with such a hearty appreciation of Shekspere's text as would have surely mollified even the stupid fanatics, who are crying aloud in the streets, expressed their approbation os warmly as ever, and it was remarked that the audience of lest night, tither grown more confident in its own judgment, or heartier through the knowledge that this was the last of the great dramatic nights of the festival, was louder and more demonstrative than at any preceding representation. '[he well-known epilogue, in uttering which poor Peg Woffiogton was smitten with the para!ysis from which she slowly died, was given by Mrs. Young amid the breathless silence of the house, was greeted at its close by a loud and continued burs of applause, which lasted long after the curtain fell, and was followed by cries for Rosalind, which were only appeased on Mr. Compton (who with Miss Saunders received a special ovation) coming forward and apologising for Mrs. Charles Young's not b,ing able at that moment to come forward to express her thanks. This morning the music-stands for the inatru• mentalists of to-night were being rapidly put upon the stage ; the seats in the body of the hall ware removed, en,' the entire aspect of the room was that of a th. , .tatre swept and garnished for a prome nade concert; committee-men were busily confer ring as to tickets and the all-important question of vouchers ; carriages were rapidly driving to and fro the High-street, stopping at such shops as either vend the materials for fancy dresses, or let on hire the ready-made costumes ; Mr. May, of the Hay market Theatre, was busily arranging his multi farious wardrobes, and giving intending masquers their choice between the Touchstone, Amiens, the banished duke of last night, and an endless variety of Shaksperian dresses ; and if premonitory symp toms be worth anything at all, the ball of to-night will be a crowning point to the other successes of the week. lVhen the exeellence of the business arrangements of the festival has been proverbial; when the most fastidious and lynx-eyed have failed to detect weak joints in the armour; and when the Earl of Carlisle himself, after alluding to his large experience of public celebrations, took occasion to specially compliment the managers of the Ter centenary upon the admirable nature of the pre. parations made, it is only right to say that to, the untiring efforts of Dr. Henry Kingsiey. the honorary secretary to the committee, and Mr. J Sharp, his working coadjutor, the visitors to Strat ford have been largely indebted for the complete comfort with which they have been able to enjoy the entertainments provided. In all affairs of such magnitude as this festival it is obvious that upon the shoulders of those entrusted with its adminis trative details rests the power of making or marr ing its success. In all the little difficulties and emergencies inseparable from undertakings of the kind the energy and courtesy of Dr. Kingsley, and the minute and painstaking attention of Mr. Sharp, have been as constant and un wearying as their dnties have been herculean and laborious, and it is not tJo much to say that to their undeviating and consistent devotion to the cause, conjoined with the equally untiring and ever courteous efforts of the Mayor, and the vicar, the Rev. G. Granville, Strat ford is indebted for much of the triumph it is en. joying, as well as the repute it has won, Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application to Messrs. Mar Shall, solic.tors of the Court of Bankruptcy, Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices— (established 1830), 12 , 1 fatton-garden. City branch-6. Moor gate-street, Bank.--ADVT. ADVERTISEMENT.} -Avoid medicines: they always aggra vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, invariably cures them, restoring perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, of a fiver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of _thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange • ment, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous I ancies.—Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. Jas, T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity of the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment" In tins, 1 lb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 48. 6d ; 51b., lls. ; 121 b., 225. ; t4lb 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason; and all Grocers and Chemists in every town of the United Kingdom. LADVERTIBEMENT.j—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.— The worst descriptions of ulcers, the most revolting sores, and the intensest external inflammations, yield before thia cooling Ointment, when its effect is augmented by the in ternal administration of Holloway's Pills. In " bad legs," this Ointment has only to applied for a few days before its beneficial influence is seen over these indolent ulcera tions, which no previous treatment could ease, much less cure. Under its application the pains decrease, the almost bursting skin relaxes, and healthy granulations spring up to displaco the old matter, which was horrifying to behold Holloway's Ointment purifies the blood in the neighbour ing vessels, from which firm and good flesh can alone be formed; it quickens the absorption of effete substances, and re-establishes soundness.—Sold at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, and by all medicine Tendders throughout the civilised world, UNCLAIMED WRECKS. Mr. RO3ERS asked the President of the Board of Trade, by that authority the proceeds of unclaimed wreck, to which the right of private owners has been acknowledged by the Crown, have been retained by the receivers since such ackncwledgment of claim. Mr, M. GIBSON said that this matter was in dispute, and so long as that was the case, the Board of Trade could only give the wreck to the parties legally entitled to re ceive it. THE CONFERENCE. In reply to Mr. DISRAELI, Sir G. GREY said it was not correct that the Conference would not reassemble. They had adjourned, but not sine die, and he was unable to say the day when they would meet again. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) SALMON FISHERIES. On the motion for going into c6mmittee of supply, Mr P. WINDHAM asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring inn bill this session to amend the Salmon Fisheries Act (1861) ? He contended that means should be adopted for the preservation of salmon, and that a tax for this purpose should be imposed, ur that a fund should be raised by proprietors, instead of leaving tee mat ter to voluntary contributions. Mr. T. J. BARING agreed with the hon. member, but the matter was one of intricacy. However, it was under the consideration of Government, but he could not promise that any bill relative to it would be introduced this session. CASE OF MR. WILLIAM BEWICKE. Mr. H. BERKELEY moved that this house, upon Monday next, resolve itself into a committee to consider an address to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to direct adequate compensation to be made to Wm. Bewicke, Threepwood Hall, Northumberland, for the pain, degradation, anguish of mind, and consequent ill-health! he has suffered, in being confined for 12 months in a prison as a felon, on a charge since proved to be false; for theconfiscation of his gcods,chattels, family pictures, plate, and library, thus inflicting upon him an irreparable injury; also for the heavy pecuniary loss he had Buffet ed in prose cuting and bringing to justice the persons who had con spired against him, such having been the only means by which eventually he was enabled to establish his inno cence ; and that this house is prepared to assure her Majesty that it will make good the same. The hon. member detailed the principal facts of the case, with whit the public aro already familiar. Mr. Bewicke went into prison a strong robust man, and came out broken in spirit and constitution. He complained of the terms of the order by which Mr Bewicke was liberated, stating that he was pardoned. If the term pardon must be retained in such orders it should be that the judge and jury should be pardoned for the blunder they had committed. He denounced in the strongest manner the treatment which Mr. Bewicke had received, and said that his legal expenses amounted to between £2,000 and £3,000, while ho lost by the forced sale of his furniture no less than £BO per cent. A mosaic table, which Mr Bewicke procured from Italy, and for which he paid £lOO, was sold for £l7, and a valuable library contain ing the works of Racine and Moliere was sold for the price of waste paper. He concluded by an earnest appeal to the House to redress the grievances of which Mr. Bewiokc so justly complained. (Cheers.) Sir G. GREY said that he must object to the motion, notwithstanding that it excited his sympathy, and he asked the house seriously to consider the question raised by this motion, which involved a most important principle. Mr. Bewicke had defended an act ota against him, and the Sheriff of Northumberland had to enforce the costs of it. He employed his officers, and he (Sir G. Grey) would make inquiries into the statement of the character of these men. He defended the conduct of the magistrates and the judge and jury, who had no other course than to convict Mr. Bewicke on evidence which bad been adduced on the trial. When a petition was presented to him on behalf of Mr. Bewicke, he adopted the usual course and referred it to the judge who heard the case, and who repeated the statement he made at the trial as to his entire concurrence in the verdict of the jury. With regard to the sale of the furniture, every attempt was made by the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to induce Mr. Bewicke's family to adopt means to prevent the removal of his furniture, but without success, and they had no other course to pursue but to put up the furniture to pub lic sale. He regretted that Mr. Bewicke should have de fended himself instead of employing counsel, who would have sifted the evidence, and perhaps exposed the character of the witnesses, on whose evidence ho was convicted. If they were to affirm the principle of this motion they wield go to the extent of deciding that in every case there should be compensation where there had leen an erroneous conviction. This was a subject that required great consideration, and was too important to be settled by the circumstances of a particular case. Vith regard to compensation that was another matter, and as Mr. Bewicke said property worth £1,500 was sold for £4OO, he would not object to an inquiry into the subject. (Hear, hear.) Lord J. MANNERS supported the motion, and !on. detnned the line of argument adopted by the Home Secre tary. After a few words from Mr. INGHAM and Mr. LIDIELL, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the motion, that it would create a very inconvenient precedent, and said hat M!, Bewicke had been unfortunate in omitting re• tain either attorney or counsel to defend him on his trial. Mr. G. HARDY intimated that if the Government would consent to a committee of inquiry ho would support thew in resisting the motion ; but he thought the terms of re ference ought to be general, and include the whole of the allegations in Mr. Bewicke's petition. Mr. DISRAELI characterised the case as one cf infa mous oppression, contended that the arguments of the Homo Secietary were inconsistent, urged that the case must le decided upon its merits, and advised Mr. lerkeley to staid by his motion. The house then divided, and the numbers were— For going into committee of supply 118 Against it Majority against Government .. —.2 Theresult was hailed with vehement cheering, and a great 'umber of members immediately left the house. Sir C. GREY then moved as an amendment that a select comm ttee be appointed to consider the petition of Mr. Bewidte, and to report its opinion as to whether ho was en titled to any and what compensation. Mr DISRAELI regarded this proposition as intended eo rescird the vote which the house had just come to. Mr, BERKELEY declined acceding to the &rnendment, whici, he agreed with Mr. Di4raeli, was an endeavour to upset the vote. HORSMAN also complained that the amendment had taken the house by surprise, and blamed the Govern ment for pursuing an unusual and unparliamentary course; but Sir G. LIREY denied that his motion was unparlia mentary. The house again divided, and the amendment for appoint ing a select committee was carried by 148 to 100. CHIMNEY CLIMBING BOYS. Mr. D. SEYMOUB, directed attention to the extensive employment of climbing boys in sweeping chimneys, and the systematic violation of the Act for the Regulation of Chin:may Sweepers and Chimneys, and inquired whether the Government intended to bring in any bill during the present session founded on the recommendations of the children's employment commission. Sir U. GREY admitted that the report of the commis- sionere fully justified the statement that the law was exten sively violated. The attention of Government had been directed especially to that portion of the report which re lated to climbing boys, and they intended rendering their assistance to Lord Shaftesbury in passing the measure of which he had given notice. Among the other questions discussed on the motion that the Speaker should leave the chair, were the Retiring Pen sions of Colonial Governors, the Museum for Inventions, and the Patent Office. PRIVILEGE. Mr. B. OSBORNE—Sir, I protest against the chair being taken in this way. It is a breach of common cour tesy; my hon friend the member for Buckingham (Sir H. Verney) got up to address the Speaker. In all the course of my parliamentary experience I never saw this done. I put to the house it this can be permitted. It appears to me that we are to be treated like the Conference, and be ad• journed sine die. (Laughter.) I move that the chairman report progress and ask leave to sit again. Sir G. GREY—I think that any observation of this kind ought to be made when the Speaker is in the chair. Mr. B. OSBORNE—Why, the Speaker ran away I :Laughter.) Sir G. GREY—I heard the Speaker put the question. The motion 'which the hon. member has made I had already made, for I had moved that you report progress and ask Leave to sit again. Sir H. VERNEY—As soon as the last speaker had finished his address I rose, and before the Speaker left the chair I got up and addressed him. Mr. AYRTON—I think it very inconvenient to report progress; the proceedings which have taken place Ernst be SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, TIMES.—It is now about a hundred years since Stanislaus Poniatowski ascended the throne of Poland, He owed his elevation mainly to the Em press Catherine of Russia, with whom he was be lieved to be united by ties mere tender than those of mere political sympathy. It might have been sup. posed that the same Power which placed him on the throne would have lent him ain to maintain himself there and so it might have bee.: but for the aggressive and rapatioes genius of the King of Prussia. He held out to Austria the allurement of an accession of territory by the par tition of Poland, and, when he had gained over that Court, he arranged, with infinite bargaining and haggling, the share which Russia was to receive in compensetion for the abandonment of her friend and ally. The whole thing teas managed by the three Powers with a mixture of barefaced injus tice and odious hypocrisy. They seized upon the territories which they had allotted to theneselves,and they published a manifesto ; in which they repre sented themselves as actuated by justice, benevo lence, and generosity. They pointed to the internal dissensions of Poland. They expressed apprehen sions for the welfare of surrounding nations, unless something were done to check them. They were anxious to settle the ancient Constitution of Poland and to establish its national and popular liberties on a solid basis; and, as they foresaw that the har mony and friendship then existing among them might no! always continue, they insisted on the re cognition of particular claims to various territories which they did not wish to expose to the hazard of future contingencies. Their dignity, they said, and their regard for justice would co , permit them to yield beyond a certain point to the dictates of their natural moderation. The essential interest of their Crowns would not permit them to renounce their claims ; and if the King of Poland had any com passion for his people, he would not, by refusing to call a Diet, expose them to violence and injury. The Diet was elected under the bayonets of three invading armies. It surrendered all that was de manded, and the King flung his hat on the floor and told them if no greater territory than that hat covered were left him, he would still be in the eyes of all Europe their lawful but unfortunate King. Such was the first act of that long tragedy which for a hundred years has exhibited the insolent triumph of might over right, and made Poland the just object of the sympathy, the compassion, and tne indignation of every civilised country in the world. These evil deeds let loose a host of the most grievous evils upon Europe. They co-operated with the new philosophy which was sapping the foundations of society and government, and taught mankind to believe that Kings could be as wicked and statesmen as base as the pen of Rousseau or Condorcet could represent them. If the French Revolution shook down the edifice, its pillars were loosened and its foundations undermined by the partition of Poland. The blood and tears of a quarter of a century of war and desolation have not effaced the traces of the partition of Poland from those countries of Europe which were least con cerned in the event. He must be au inattentive observer indeed who does not trace in the events which are now passing before our eyes, if not an exact historical parallel, at any rate a resemblance sufficiently striking to encourage the moat gloomy anticipations. Ever since the partition of Poland all Europe has been pretending at least to deplore and condemn it. Nobody justifies it now. In words, at least, it is universally repudiated. The Kings, the Ministers, the Generals, the diplomatists who brought it about are held in universal execration ; and yet we seem likely to see acted before our eyes a repetition of all the most hateful parts of this execrable drama. 'We have the same injustice and covetousness, veiled under the same specious and honourab:e professions. That which the love of peace and order and the apprehension of territorial disturbance was to the Powers who dismembered Poland the desire of supporting a distressed and kindred nationality is to Prussia and Austria. While lamenting over the wrongs of a people condemned o speak the Danish language and to be severed from their own free and happy fat herland, Prussia is merely regarding her little neighbour with the same feeling as turned the eyes of Ahab towards the vineyard of Nahoth the Jezreelite. Her talk is autonon y and personal union ; her thoughts are of cities and harbours, of bays and islands. Pretext after pretext has been adopted and thrown aside with cynical recklessness so soon as it has served her turn. The first masquerade was played off under the visor of scrupulous legality. The German Confederacy took up arms to vindicate the wrongs undergone by the Duchy of Holstein at the hands of a foreign Prince on whom the dukedom had de scended. Holstein was occupied for the purpose of Federal execution, just as Poland was occupied that the Diet might deliberate freely. The pretence served its purpose, and was scornfully cast aside. Schleswi g meet n ext b e se i zed , en d the on l y ground that coul be invented for seizing it was the not very specious pretext that a material guarantee was needed that full justice should be done to Holstein, and, as it was begun to be suggested, to Schleswig also. War appeared in its most hideous form, thousands of innocent and industrious people were reduced to misery. To make the whole thing com plete, the Powers who hed found themselves by solemn treaties to respect the title of the reigning monarch—indeed, to whom, like Poniatewski, he may be said to be indebted for his throne—brought with them a Pretender, whose claims had been pur chased for an ample consideration as a preliminary to the treaty establishing the right of the present King of Denmark, to which their signatures were affixed. Thi s P re t en d er, who dared not remain a day in the country without their patronage and en couragement, has been further assisted by the dis missal of the officials established by the lawful King, and has been suffered to enter into relations with the people of the Duchies utterly inconsistent with the attitude of neutrality implied in the idea of a Federal execution in one Duchy and the seiz ing on a pledge or material guarantee in the other. The Danish army, like the Poles, has offered a brave but an unavailing resistance, but the effusion of blood could not be stayed, because Prus sia felt it her duty to distinguish herself in war, and had gained one of those happy opportunities where a small nation, being piqued on the point of honour, must fight, even though defeat to itself, and consequently victory to its antagonist, be absolutely certain. It may be doubted whether even this pro. fession was sincere, and whether the pretence ot a desire to acquire cheap and inglorious laurels did not hide the wish to place Denmark absolutely at the mercy ot the invaders, and thus to remove the only obstacle to territorial aggrandizement. The obstinacy of the Danish Government has been a most powerful auxiliary to the covetousness of its invaders. It has fought just enough to give them the excuse they needed, and not enough to throw any serious obstacle in the way of their progress. It is not, indeed, as it was a hundred years ago, when such things could be done by the strong against the weak without any serious protest or remonstrance. The Powers involved in this course ot double-dealing must give an account of their acts before an European Conference. Opinion has been able, so far at least, to assert its claim to bo heard, even amid the promptings of ambition and the.ela tion of success. But here, we greatly fear, its triumphs are destined to end. Austria, though having in the instance of Denmark no direct terri torial acquisition to strive for, is, nevertheless, too fearful of compromising her relations to the smaller Powers of Germany, teed too subservient to Prussia, to stop short in the course of which she is destined to share the discredit without gaining the substan tial advantage. Prussia, with the game almost within her grasp, stimulated by an aristocracy eaeer above all things to turn the mind of the nation from domestic to foreign policy, and elated by a cheap success, is even less likely to give way ; and France seems inclined, with all the enthusiasm of a convert, to overact the part of a peacemaker, and to neutralize her influence in the hope of extin guishing all distrust of her intentions. We greatly tear the result will be triumph of the men of action over the men of words, the overthrow of the just policy of the 'Western Powers by the superiority always obtained by thos e w h o are ready to appeal to force. PosT.---To those who watch with interest the pro ceedings of the Conference (and who does not ?) it may possibly occasion some surprise that obstacles should be raised in limine to the conclusion of an armistice. The ostensible object with which the Danish territories were in the first instance invaded has been attained, and the Prussian troops have covered themselves with what to them at least appears military glory, Schleswig is now, from the Baltic to the German Ocean, in the occupation of the allies, and both on the Danewirke and the redoubts of Duppel sufficient Danish cannon have been taken to suffice for the construction of a grand military trophy to commemorate to the most distant posterity the prowess of the German arms. The head-quarters of the Danish army have quitted Alsen, and probably within a few days that little appurtenance of Schieiwig will share the fate of that Duchy. Germany has now all she demanded, and, so far as we have the means of judging, all which she desires, and yet still we receive daily in.. telligence of the onward march of Austrian and Prussian legione into the province of Jutland, and still the appeals made by the great neutral Powers in the cause of peace fall upon deaf ears. It was announced, and with truth, that when the Confer.. ence met an armistice would be proposed by the . English plenipotentiaries. That proposal was sup ported by the representatives of the neutral Powers, but was coupled with conditions which the German representatives professed themselves unable, with out instructions, either to refuse or to accept. The Deno-Gorman war has been to • this extent peculiar that, whii,st the Germans posse ;sod an overwhelm' ing prepone l eranee in respect to land forces, the Danes had an almost exclusivi I command of the sea. The only use, however, t o which Denmark has been enablezi ,to turn her naval superiority has been to blockade the German ports, a measure which, however iuju. - ions to an enemy's commeros, is rather of a negative than a positive character, Powerless at sea, the German Powers are said to have made it a nee es s s' ihs' and their OVA. condition of the suspen sion of hostilities t the blockade should be raises and relieved from the 'sent imposed upon it. ser i ous rs s :,rictions at 7Pa. Under ordinary circum:ite'it..2es such a condition might seem reaeenable, but tin the present in stance it is not so must appear era,a little reflection. on th The German Powers has'c second sossess reed i of upon, ace , Duchies, and if an armistice were ea companied by a suspension of theaxisa, motiveablockafoer ' nc e the aggressive Powers would have no to s bringing the proceedings of the Cossfezah eas speedy close. They could lose nothing, ,(3r on they might gain mrch by delay. An armiall. "her the basis of the military uti poasidelis would all , . 3 them every facility for revolutionising the D0e1 3 , 16 and effecting such changes as would render it nu possible for the signitaries of the Treaty of Loudorl to require that they should subsequently be restored to Denmark. Against such a coetingency th e Danish Government are bound to provide, and, i n . desiring to reserve the maintenance of the rights of blockade, they simply wish not so mach to retain the means of injuring Germany, as to furnisis en 10 : ducement to the German Powers to bring ncusitten: to a speedy conclusion. Germany h as througho ut , assumed so high a tone that we are not surprised b" the disdainful manner in which the official journals in Vienna and Berlin have treated a suggestion• which at the Conference received the support of the neutral Powers. But, after all, an armistice in sane shape or other is only a matter of time ; and, held' ever desirous the Germans might be of prosecuting hostilities, their possible sphere is so extremely re stricted that it would soon become physically tr(l - for them to find fresh territory to invade. Jutland is almost entirely defenceless, and might be occupied in the course of a few days. One of the latest telegrams informs us that the General ia command of the Danish forces in that province has retreated without accepting battle; nor is th is considering the relative proportions, of the German and Danish armies. If the war con tinued, Fredericia would undoubtedly share the fate of Duppel, and Funen, together with Alsen, would pass into German hands. It is therefore impossible, however the question is regarded, that the Dano-German war can be of long continuanc e ; and, such being the case, there is the greater pro bability that the preliminary difficulties raised et the Conference will be speedily cleared away. suspension of hostilities will, however, be only pre fatory to the discharge of the proper functions of the Conference. 'Metiers have unfortunately now ar rived at that pass that Denmark is powerless to give effect to any dissent to which she might thin . " - it consistent with her dignity to give expression- Her fate depends er.clusively upon the neutral Powers, and on them she will be compelled to rely If they should assent to a proposal for her disinte gration, nought would remain for her but to sub init. She might retire from the Conference, but. the withdrawal of her plenipotentiaries would net avert her destiny. It may be, however, that her very helplessness will be to her a source of strength' The representatives of the Western Powers are wel l aware that there is something more at stake than the form of administration thenceforth to be esta blished in two obscure Duchies in Northern Europe" The true nature of the issue was candidly avowed by the Prussian Prime Minister in December last, in a conversation with Lord Wodehonse. It is a contest between despotic and liberal institutions, between constitutional government and that species of rule to which enlightened Austria and Prussia are willing to submit. " Peace," said Count B i e; mark, " will never subsist between Germany an d Denmark so long as the latter encourages dernocra" tic institutions." It will certainly be establishing a strange precedent if the Western Powers should, by endorsing the demands of the German States, countenance aggression based upon such a justifi cation. We now dismiss from consideration the, claims which Denmark has t o th e protection 01 France and England, and throw out of account the serious disturbance to the balance of power in Europe which would be effected by the trossmuta tion of Germany into a naval Power. IV ben, ho" ever, these considerations are also borne in mind, it is impossible to avoid feeling that however great may be the straits to which Denmark is driven, her interests will be carefully protected at a Conference to which the representatives of France and Great Britain have admission. Self" interest furnishes the strongest of all motives to human action, and it may be a source of satisfactio n to Denmark to know that, feeble though she is, the force of circumstances has made her cause equally that of the two most powerful maritime Powers is the world. COUNTRY BIAMEETS. LIVERPOOL—FRIDAY. There was a better attendance of the town and country trade to-day, and wh ea t me t a goo d cons umptive denr , ' at about 21 per cental dearer. Flow- sells more readi.n,l3lo. but prices as before. I n di an corn me!' I an improved quiry, and we quot e 3d on th e wee k. O a t s Id per bush el, and oatmeal 3d to 6d p er l oa d aga i ns t b u yers. 1 30136 peas, and barley all te n di ng i n th e same clirection. LINCOLN. White wheat new, 38s to 42. Red do. 363 to 39s Old white ---s to —s Red do. —s to —s I Barley, malting, 33s to 35s 1 New.do r—FRIDAY. Barley, grins ling , . 27s to 29; Oats, old, „. ..... 24, to 2'26 6s Beans.. 4os to 42s i• . • . 1 Beans, new... • .. 349 to 366 .... 19s to WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY. A at The wheat trade was firm, and the sa l es ma do w as edr-ear. rather over last Friday's qu o tati o n s . B eans f u t 1Y In other articles there was no material change. Averages for the week : 39s 2111 Wheat 378 qrs., at Rye — 8ar1ey......... 1787 Beans 5l .. 33s 70, Peas Oats STAMFORD-FRIDAY. White wheat, 39s to 42s ; red, 38s to 40s per 36 s;oll e ' Barley, malting, 33s to 35s ; grinding, 29s to 32s pet Oats, 18s to 228 per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to --s P er qr. ; new, 34s to 365. CORK—THURSDAY. The following were the quotatio ns this morning Re wheat, 8s Od to 8s 10d; white, 8s Od to 9s 8d , barley , Id to Os Od ; oats, 5s 8d to Os 4d ; black do,, ös 34 k) 5s 61 BRISTOL SUGAR—FRIDAY. There has been a quiet trade doing, and notwithstiag; ing importers are willing to sell at fully 6d per cwt. ldw e l buyers will not purchase. Refined goods is decline, aP" difficult to sell. In rum no sales to report. COAL M . ?noes of Coal per Ton at ARK ET t the ()loge of the =net. e, u‘ s. d. Eden Main 17 3 Buddle'sWest Hartley 17 3 Hastings Hartley l7 3 North Pelton Gas 12 9 Cowpen Hartley 17 8 13yass's Bebside West Hartley ... 17 3 V aLker Primrose 12 6 Wylam 17 6 Gawber Hall (hard).. 16 0 Walls End. Heugh Hall 17 South Kelloe 17 ' Haswell ...1 8 6 South Hetton 18 6 Caradoc lB ‘ , 3 Ca.ssop Hartlepool ..15 6 Braddyll'a Hetton 17 Tunstall Riddell 10 9 9 Framwellgato ... 16 6 East Hartlepool 18 Kelloe .. l7 120 ; sold, 33. Walls End. Hetton lB 6 Marton 16 9 Ships at market, Births. BARRY.—On the 27th inst., at 7, Clarendon - road, Futricfs the wife of C. Ainslie Barry, Esq., of a daughter , GARDNER.—On the 28th inst., at Stamford-hill, M r s. // • Gardner, of a daughter. MICILELL,—On the 28th inst., at 32, Cleveland-squarOV'e the Lady Frances Michell, of a son. TICKELL.—On the 29th inst., at Rossendale House, Strea tham, the wife of Commander Thomas Tickell, JO" of a son. Marriages. ARKWEIGHT—BRODHURST—On the 28th inst., at NeWarl on Trent, James Charles Arkwright, E eq., son of Pee r Arkwright, Esq., of Willereley, Derbyshire, to Mari, Esther, eldest daughter of William B ro dh urst, Esq., of The Friary, Newark. FORDYCE — HAY.—On the 29th inst., at Christcburc h t H a rrow. on -the •Hill, Colonel Charles Francis Fordyce, C. 8., to Mary Heron Maxwell, fourth daughter of th 4/ late Sir James Dalrymple Hay, Bart,, of Park-I) l3 c ° ' Wigtonshire. Deaths. FOWLER.—On the 27th inst., at 39, Porchester-squar e r Hyde -park, Henry Fowler, Esq formerly of NeLee l t Prussia, aged 77. GIDDEs.-0a the 28th inst., at Edinburgh, Lieuteaant• General John Geddes, Colonel of H.M.'s 27th ( 1 "'" killing) Regt. HrArr.—On the 27th inst., at 11, Beile Vue, Clifton, tha Rev. Joseph Hyatt, aged 68. KEY.—On the 29th inst., Joseph Key, Esq., of Upper Phillimore-place, Kensington. MACKINTOSH.—On the 25th inst,, at Hyde-park-terr ace, Kensington-gore, Robert James Mackintosh, Esi' 8°1:1 of the late Right Hon. Sir James Mackintosh. STANBROUGH.—On the 28th Inst., at Isleworth , Walter Stanbrough, Esq., of H.M.'s War Office, aged 39• London: Prlrized and frbiished by WILL lASI A NDRE; "' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at ThE SUN Office Strand, the Precinct of the Savoy, u the Coua'y Ot IlllaAletie•X --Saturday, Arril 30, 1804.